Brake drum



A ril 28, 1936. H. J. HORN 2,038,842

BRAKE DRUM Filed March 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I IINVENTOR. #6569) J HUB/V ATTORNEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iNVENTOR. H4/EFF J HOE/V IIIIIIIIIIII ATTORNEY.

H. J. HORN BRAKE DRUM April 28, 1936.

Filed March 18 Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNlTED- STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAKE DRUM Harry J. Horn, Lansing, Mich, assignor to Motor Wheel Corporation, Lansing, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application March is, 1935, Serial No. 11,609 5 Claims. (01. 188-218) The principal object of the invention is to provide a composite brake drum with a amount of material which may be quickly and economically produced and which has the necessary characteristics of dissipating heat rapidly and of resisting destruction when subjected to abnormal usage. The manner in which this and'other objects as well as the advantages mentioned are obtained will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings forming a part hereof.

In the drawings: Figures 1 to 9 inclusive illustrate the various steps in the production'of the brake drum web; Figure 10 is a fragmentary front view of the brake ringprior to assembly with the web;

Figure 11 is a partial sectional view of the ring and web after assembly and before being fastened together;

Figure 12 illustrates the manner in which the extremities of the integral projections of the web are enlarged to fasten the web and ring together;

Figure 13 is a partial sectional view of a composite brake drum embodying the present invention taken on substantially the line |3--|3 of Figure 1 Figure 14 is a partial sectional view of a brake drum embodying a modified form of the invention;

Figure 15 is a partial front view of the construction shown in Figure 13;

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the composite drum showing therelation of the projections carried by the web to the ring after assembly; and

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken on substantially the line l'l--l'l of Figure 16.

A better understanding of the novel method'of producing the present brake drum will be had by flrst-referring to the illustration in Figures 13, 14, and 15, of the completed drum. Figures v 13 and 15 show the preferred embodiment of the invention and Figure 14 a modified embodiment of the invention.

In Figures 13 and 14 the brake drum is shown as consisting of a brake ring 10 having an inturned flange II at one edge thereof. The brake ring is here shown as of the type having a wearresisting inner liner l2. The external surface of the ring 10 is preferably deformed as indicated 'at I3 to provide a stifiening means adjacent the open side thereof. The flange ll of ring I0 is 80 provided with circumferentially spaced apart rectangular openings l4 which are clearly shown in Figure 10.

The ring [0 is supported by a generally disklike web l5. The web 15 is provided with a plurality of integral fingers l6 at its periphery (see Fig. 11). The fingers I5 are rectangular in cross section, the cross sectional area thereof being slightly less than the area of the openings 14. The fingers l 6 project through the corresponding openings l4 in the ring flange H and have their free extremities enlarged as indicated at H in Figures 15, 16 andl'l. The manner in which these extremities are enlarged to overlie the edges of the cooperating openings 14 will be-described presently.

The web I5 is provided with a central opening I8 in order to mount the same over a wheel hub such as that shown in dotted lines in Figure 13. Adjacent the central opening l8 the web is provided with a series of relatively large holes l9 and an intermediate series of relatively small- 'One of the distinct advantages of the present invention is the fact that an enlarged hub flange may be utilized as a. support for the brake ring without the use of a separate supporting web. Such a construction is illustrated in Figure 14. As there shown a hub 2| is' provided with an enlarged radial flange 22. The flange 22, as in the case of the web l5 just described, is provided at its periphery with a plurality of integral fingets 16. The connection between the hub flange 22 and the ring l0 is'identical to that of the corexample, and may be secured to the ring by a.

centrifugab casting process.

' The formation of the web I5 is clearly shown n1 Figures 1 to 9 inclusive. As there shown, a. plurality of disks may be cut from a rectangular blank 25. These disks are then subjected to a deforming operation by means of which the central portion thereof is dished as shown in Figure 2.

The disk is next provided with the circumferentialrib 26 by a suitable die-drawing operation.

Thereafter portions of the periphery of the disk are cut away as shown in Figures 5 and 6 to provide the circumferentially spaced apart radially extending integral fingers I6. Preferably at the same time, the disk .is' pierced to form the opening I8, I9 and 20, and the supporting projections 21. These projections, as clearly shown in Figure 6, are located adjacent the periphery of the disk, preferably between the fingers I6, al though the number of these projections is preferably less than the number of fingers.

The fingers I6 are bent laterally in order that they may project through the openings I4 in the flange II of ring I when the ring and web are assembled. As graphically illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 the bending of the fingers is accomplished in two separate operations. This is necessary in order to avoid hardening the fingers and thereby destroying their ductility with the result that difficulty would be experienced in deforming the same as hereinafter described. It has been found that the best results are obtained by bending the fingers at a point a .slight distance outwardly from their base so that after they are bent the fingers project radially beyond the body of the web I a distance at least as great as their thickto a slight extent.

The web as shown in Figures 8 and 9 is ready for assembly with the brake ring. As previously mentioned, the fingers I6 are of thesame shape as the openings I4, but the fingers are somewhat smaller than the openings. In assembling the web and ring the fingers I6 are inserted into the openings I! as. shown in Figure 11. As best shown in Figure the projections 21 assist in centering the web and ring. The inner extrem ity of the flange II preferably contacts at least some of these projections. When assembled, as shown in Figure 11', the fingers I6 are positioned somewhat diagonally within the openings I4 with respect to the radial extent of the openings. This diagonal or inclined position of the fingers I6 in the openings I4, is of assistance in forming a proper connection between the ring and web.

The web and ring are permanently fastened to each other by enlarging the free extremities of fingers I6. This is done as illustrated in Figure 12. As there shown, the ring and web, in assembled relation, are supported by a fixture 30. This fixture supports the web against both radial and axial displacement. The extremities of the fingers I6 areenlarged by applying axial pressure against the ends of the fingers with a specially formed punch 3I. By applying a true axial pressure to the ends of the fingers I6 the metal of the fingers is caused to flow axially to a suflicient extent to completely fill the openings Il in the flange II. This is desirable in order to prevent movement between the ring and web and also to provide for adequate heat transfer from the ring to the web. v

The punch 3| is provided with a special contour in order to cause the metal of the fingers I6, at the ends thereof, to flow laterally as well as endwise. This is necessary because of the rectangular cross section of the fingers I6 and because it is desired to enlarge the ends of fingers I6 sumciently to completely overlie the edges of the openings I4 through which the fingers extend. The manner and extent of'the enlargement of -the finger ends is clearly shown at I1 in Figures II surrounding the openings I4. This contact also aids in the transfer of heat from the ring to the web. A f

By making the web I5 with an overall diameter less than the diameter of the brake ring a considerable saving in material results. By utilizing the integral fingers I6 for fastening the web and ring together the number of parts employed is maintained at a minimum andat the same time a very efiicient heat transferring connection is provided. The manner in which the ends of fingers I6 are enlarged insures a secure connection between the web and ring and one which will withstand without destruction or distortion any use to which the drum is usually subjected. All these advantages are obtained at a minimum of expense.

The scope of the invention. which may be embodied in modifications other than those shown and described, is indicated in the appended claims.

1. A brake drum comprising a brake ring having an inwardly extending flange provided with a plurality of apertures and a disc-like web having a circumferential rib adjacent the inner periphery of said flange and an annular portion contacting said flange, said web being provided with integral fingers extending beyond the periphery of said weband extending through said apertures, said fingers being enlarged at their extremities to secure said web to said flange.

2. A brake drum comprising a brake ring having a radially extending flange provided with circumferentially spaced apertures and a disc-like web of a diameter locating its periphery radially inwardly of said-apertures, the web having integral fingers at its periphery extending through the apertures in the flange, the free ends of the fingers being enlarged flange.

3. A brake drum comprising a brake ring having a radial flange at one edge thereof provided with spaced apertures and a disc-like supporting web for the ring disposed with its radially inner and outer peripheries located at one side of the plane of the flange and with an intermediate portion extending into the plane of the flange, the web having a diameter less than that of the flange and provided with integral fingers at its periphery extending through the apertures in the flange, the free ends of the fingers being enlarged to secure the web to the flange.

4. A brake drum comprising a brake ring having a radial flange provided with spaced apertures and a disc-like supporting web having a peripheral portion contacting a relatively small area of one side of the flange and a portion located radially inwardly of its periphery extending into the plane of the flange, the-web having integral fingers at its periphery extending through the apertures in the flange, the free ends of the fingers being enlarged to secure the web to the flange. I. v

5. A brake drumcomprising a brake ring having an inwardly extending flange provided with to secure the web to the spaced apertures and a dished supporting web v having integral fingers extending beyond its periphery and through said apertures, the free ends of the fingers being enlarged to secure the web to the flange, the dishing of the web being, such that the web crosses the central plane of the flange at least once.

HARRY J. HORN. 

